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Dear colleagues,
While we are adjusting to the new situation of academic work during the Covid-19 crisis and preparing for the gradual resumption of our normal activities I would like to update you on ongoing research on Covid-19 in which researchers from MHeNs are involved. We have put together a list of ongoing projects on the School website: https://mhens.mumc.maastrichtuniversity.nl/covid-19-research-mhens. There are both projects based at MUMC linked to the direct clinical care for patients with Covid-19 and international surveys on consequences of the Corona crisis for patients and care providers. The psychological consequences of Covid-19 and its impact on our social life are increasingly being discussed, and thus this research will have huge clinical and societal impact. Another essential consideration are the potential effects of Covid-19 on brain functioning and cognition, and this is also an area where our expertise can make important contributions.
Another area of academic activity that has been transformed by the current pandemic are our PhD defences. On 23 April we had our first online PhD defence, in which Nalini Atcharayam successfully defended her thesis on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Congratulations to Nalini and her supervisors, Tammo Delhaas and Boris Kramer! We have more online defences coming up and from my personal experience I would say that the format works very well although it is a shame to miss out on the joint celebration in our beautiful monastic building.
On behalf of the MHeNs management board we wish you good health, and please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to discuss any aspects of working through the crisis.
David & Tom
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When I write this text, we are in the middle of the corona crisis that has changed the world for many of us so dramatically. While several colleagues have been working hard at the frontiers of the care for corona patients, most of us were forced to stay at home. It feels weird to work without having contact with the patients included for our clinical studies, and without the possibility of seeing and talking with our colleagues in real life. Zooms, Teams and Skypes have replaced the real intrapersonal meetings that are so important for every group to function. This is a challenging time for us all, but especially for the junior researchers who are more vulnerable at the start of their career. It is great to see that despite these difficulties, we still manage to work efficiently and stay productive. Digital social events, like the Friday afternoon e-drinks and Pub quizzes are organized to keep up the good spirit. Apparently, there is a solid social capital available that makes the teams work even under these circumstances, and this makes me really feel proud and confident that we will survive. Let us hope that we will be able to turn back to the normal situation, which we value so much now.
Frans Verhey
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Division 2 in corona time meant that, except for some of us doing clinical work, everybody has been working from home since March 16th. Where possible research activities have been continued online. We have had a few virtual social gatherings and a even ‘corona’ quiz.
Also our weekly LAM meetings have started again by zoom. In addition, division 2 had its first online PhD defence on May 27th by Murat Ilhan Atagun, who did very well. At this moment, we are all looking forward to be able to see each other in person again and are waiting for the new measures to announced.
Therese van Amelsvoort
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Initially at the start of Covid-19 crisis almost all lab work at division 3 came to a complete stop when everybody started working at home. Gradually everybody has become more used to the new dynamics and challenges we have to face. As the governmental and university guidelines became more clear, the division board has allowed in April first vital and urgent experiments to continue after asking group leaders to submit such experiments for making a prioritization. In May we were happy to allow even more of these experiments to be performed within the current regulations. This implies being six persons maximally overall in the labs at Universiteitssingel 50 and maximally two per lab room. Obviously only a fraction of our work can be done, yet it is already very helpful and creates a more positive vibe. The division board noted that some group leaders did not submit a project to be considered as vital and urgent as not to overburden the system. A very noble gesture. Hopefully we can facilitate more researchers for the next period. Also a special thanks to our support staff. They are always willing to support our research staff and in particular our technicians who are even present in the labs if needed. As we observe how our complete staff deals with these difficult times we can actually repeat what we noted in our latest division’s newsletter: ‘a division we can be proud of’.
Jos Prickaerts
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Jacqueline Strik being appointed as professor of practice
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We are pleased to announce that from May 1 Jacqueline Strik has been appointed professor of practice of "mental health care for children and adolescents with psychiatric problems and somatic comorbidity" at the Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology of Maastricht University. Focus will lie on child & youth psychiatric disorders in (critically) ill children and somatic co-morbidity in child & youth mental health care. Integration and innovation of research (research in preterm infants), education (in residency psychiatry) and patient care (child & youth liaison psychiatry within MUMC+ and GGZ) will be leading.
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Daniël van den Hove being awarded a professorship
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We are pleased to announce that Daniël van den Hove has been awarded a professorship in Neuroepigenetics! Daniel is a longstanding faculty member of the Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology (and also head of its neuroscience section) and the coordinator of the EPI-AD consortium: http://www.epi-ad.eu/organization/consortium-structure.
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Individual Fellowships 2020
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The goal of the Individual Fellowships is to enhance the creative and innovative potential of experienced researchers, wishing to diversify their individual competence in terms of skill acquisition through advanced training, international and intersectoral mobility.
Individual Fellowships provide opportunities to researchers of any nationality to acquire and transfer new knowledge and to work on research and innovation in Europe (EU Member States and Horizon 2020 Associated Countries) and beyond. The scheme particularly supports the return and (re)integration of European researchers from outside Europe and those who have previously worked here, as well as researchers displaced by conflict outside the EU and Horizon 2020 Associated Countries. It also promotes the career restart of individual researchers who show great potential.
Deadline: Wednesday 9 September 2020 - 17:00
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More information
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- NWO Replicatiestudie (€ 144.832) – Dennis Hernaus (Psychiatry & Neuropsychology)
Projecttitle: 'A whiff of trust? An aWempt to replicate the effect of oxytocin on interpersonal trust'.
- ZonMw OPHELIA (€ 224.452) – Sinan Guloksuz (Psychiatry & Neuropsychology)
Projecttitle: 'Outcome of Psychosis: Heterogeneity Explained by Long-lasting lndividual Attributes (OPHELIA)'.
- ZonMw VIMP (€ 50.000) – Stephanie Vos (Psychiatry & Neuropsychology)
Projecttitle: 'MCI-SNAP: data validatie over het hele cognitieve spectrum'.
- ZonMw VIMP/Windesheim (€ 10.000) – Caroline van Heugten (Psychiatry & Neuropsychology)
Projecttitle: 'NAH Kennisnetwerk – implementatie'.
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Sender:
EURON
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The EURON mobility grant is intended for PhD students from the research groups affiliated to the EURON programme.
Applicants are expected to spend a period of maximal three months at a EURON partner university for the purpose of methodological training or a joint project. There is a preference for newly established collaborations or initiatives. The exchange has to start within 6 months after submission (between 15 June 2020 – 15 December 2020). We will reevaluate this once we’re able to travel again. The mobility grants cover travel and accommodation costs for up to 1.500 EUR.
Closing date for application: 15 June 2020
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Application form
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Mingle Day Academic Staff
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Notify that the Mingle day academic staff MHeNs (herefore: MHeNs Research Strategy Day) (On invitation only) will not be held on 4 June 2020 but is postponed to 1 September 2020.
More information will follow as soon as possible.
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4 June 2020 – New date: 1 September 2020 Mingle day academic staff MHeNs 2020 (MHeNs Research Strategy Day) (On invitation only)
15 – 18 June 2020 – Postponed Workshop Human Neuroanatomy
19 June 2020 - Cancelled for this year Microscopy Meeting (M3) on Advanced Optical Microscopy
28 June – 3 July 2020 – New date: 27 June – 2 July 2021 Summer Course on Fear, Anxiety, Obsessions & Trauma
- 7 October 2020
MHeNs Annual Research Day 2020
- 4 December 2020
Neurologie Annual Research Day
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More information
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- 27-05-2020, 14.00 hrs - Murat L Atagün
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5 June - Cancelled Mix & Match with Memorabel
- 15 - 19 June 2020
PhD / Postdoc course Advanced Optical Microsopy
- 22 - 26 June 2020
BioBusiness Summer School
- 6 – 10 July 2020
5th MaCSBio Science Day(s) 5 online sessions: “Celebrating five years of MaCSBio: Looking back, looking forward” More information regarding program and registration will follow soon
6 – 10 July 2020 - Cancelled Stress & Cognition: From Basic Mechanisms to Psychopathology Application deadline: 1 May 2020 Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- 11 – 15 July 2020
12 FENS Forum of Neuroscience, Glasgow, UK
13 – 17 July 2020 - Cancelled Brain Imaging Genetics Summer School 2020, Radboud University Nijmegen
- 19 July - 8 August 2020
CAJAL Neuroscience Training Courses 2020
23 – 27 August 2020 NEW DATES: 22-26 August 2021 11th World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences (WC11) Maastricht
- 7 October 2020
Pélerìn arts-assistenten symposium Deadline abstracts: 10 June 2020, 23.59 hrs.
- 18 November 2020
Nutrim Symposium, Is science just an opinion?
- 19 November 2020
Grow Science Day
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All detailed information
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New international consortium aims to elucidate Rare Genomic Disorders Involved in psychiatric Conditions
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Rare genomic disorders affect less than 1/2000 people in the general population, but collectively, they are a major cause of developmental and psychiatric conditions, such as autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and intellectual disability. Recent advances in genomic technologies and data sharing have revolutionized the identification and diagnosis of these rare variants. However, more detailed studies are needed to fully characterize their clinical presentation and determine the risk for particular developmental and psychiatric conditions in individuals with a rare genomic variant. Rare genomic disorders have large impacts, which allow researchers to interrogate the link between molecular function and psychiatric symptoms.
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The whole article
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Sophie Leijdesdorff at Avondgasten
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Sophie was a guest at "Avondgasten" on L1 last 1 May with a review of the "Jonge Brein College" with Therese van Amelsvoort and a reportage about @ease.
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Watch the whole video
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